National Archives of Senegal, National archives and library in Dakar, Senegal
The National Archives of Senegal is located in the Central Park building on Avenue Malick Sy in Dakar and holds government documents, administrative records, and personal papers from multiple centuries. The facility contains organized collections that span different aspects of Senegalese history and are available for researchers to examine.
The institution was founded in 1913 to document the administration of French West Africa during colonial times, with records reaching back to 1816. After 1958 it moved from Saint-Louis to Dakar to preserve the expanding collections of the newly independent nation.
The collections reveal personal stories, family connections, and everyday life across different periods of Senegalese society. Documents like correspondence and local records show how people lived and worked in their communities over generations.
Visitors can tour the archives and benefit from guided sessions that introduce the available collections. It is advisable to contact the facility in advance if you wish to examine specific materials or attend educational programs.
The facility operates a microfilm laboratory specialized in preserving colonial court records, including the Justice Indigène collection containing documents from the 19th and 20th centuries. This technical process protects fragile papers while maintaining accessibility.
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